Flexible keycase



Jan. 3, 1950 SIMION I 2,493,554

FLEXIBLE KEYCASE Filed May 20, 1946 INVENTOR. ZARRY SIMON. I

A TTOENT Y Patented Jan. 3, 1950 FLEXIBLE KEYCASE Larry Simon, Outremont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Morey L. Simon, Outremnnt, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application May 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,053

2 Claims. (Cl. 150-40) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in key cases.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient, compact, durable, economical device which can be readily carried in the pocket or in a handbag without detrimental contact of the keys with the pockets or the bag.

Another object is to provide a key case in which the keys are always held in a definite position when not in use so that they may be quickly and easily located when needed, and they will not move around and rattle and get mixed up with each other as is the situation with some forms of cases now on the market.

A further object is to provide simple means for locking and unlocking the various keys, which look device can also be used as a support for identification means such as initials, monograms, coats of arms, club insignia, etc.

A still further object is to provide a simple compact case which is light in weight and of very small bulk so as not to be noticeable when carried in the pocket or handbag.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from the detailed specification hereinafter set forth especially when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification and which illustrate a present preferred form which the invention may assume.

In brief, and in most general terms, the in vention comprises a flexible case of U-shaped cross section, keys pivotally supported between the ends of the walls of said case with their stems projecting toward the center thereof, means encircling the case and adapted when in one position to inhibit the movement of said stems from their normal position between the walls of the case, said means slidable along the case in either direction from a normal locking or inhibiting position to permit pivotal movement of one of said keys while still inhibiting the movement of the other key.

In other particulars, the middle bottom wall of the case is weakened in any suitable manner, such as by cutting it away to some degree whereby it can be fiexed or bent around this weakened point whereby one-half of the case at a time may be bent when the slide sleeve or locking means is moved in one direction from the normal locking position and whereby the other half of the case may be bent around the weak point when the slide sleeve is moved in the other direction.

More particularly, the case is made of a blank of leather which is folded into a U-shape with two parallel walls between which the keys are pivotally disposed with their stems extending toward each other toward the middle of the case. A lock sleeve encircles the case and slides along within limits defined by a recess cut in the top edges of the side walls which recess produces shoulders which act as stops for the movement of the sleeve. When the sleeve is in a mid position, it encircles and lies around the ends of the stems of the keys and keeps them from pivotal movement. When the sleeve is moved to one end of the recess, it moves away from its superposed position over the end of one key and thus permits that key to be pivoted into accessible position while at the same time the other key over which the sleeve still lies is held in restrained position. The half of the case containing'the key which is thus released may be flexed downwardly by reason of the fact that the middle of the bottom wall of the case is weakened to permit the halves to be respectively flexed down. The movement of the lock sleeve in the other direction from normal mid-position will result in similar actions taking place with respect to the keys but reverse to that above described. The

weakening of the case along its bottom at the middle thereof may be effected by cutting part away thus producing a nick-like notch when the blank is folded to receive the keys. The keys are supported on well-known two-piece screws which may be easily removed to permit removal or insertion of keys very quickly.

The case is designed for carrying keys comfortably in the pocket or in a lady's bag. The covering or material thereof may be of leather or other flexible material that prevents the keys from having contact with the lining of the pocket or bag. The keys are rigidly held and they are, therefore, always in the same position and can be easily located. No rattling or jingling can take place, nor can the keys become entangled with other objects in the pocket or bag. An interlocking screw goes through each end of the case when folded through perforations made for that purpose. A metal oval-shaped seamless sleeve fits over the case at its narrow portion when it is folded. This lock ring is also used for engraving or identification purposes. It is feasible to solder, weld, or rivet on to this look sleeve, metal crests or castings received in the form of a gift or presentation from a, club, business firm, or institution. The key case is very light in weight and size and will not cause the pocket or bag to bulge.

The keys can easily be interchanged when nec- V thecase is formed.

. 3 essary. Any desired key can be easily reached by moving the locking sleeve to the side farthest from the key desired and releasing such key which is then ready for use. back easily into place and is firmly held in position along with the other keys in the ring when the lock sleeve is moved back to locking position. In: the. preferred form,. the case is weakened along the bottom. along the fol'dline prei erably, although not necessarily, by cutting a diamond-shaped perforation therein in the center."

of the length thereof which permits the ready flexing of the case around this point, to alloweasy opening of the case at, either. endwhen.de.- sired and in the specific manner to be herein after set forth;

The articles used for this purpose before this invention. have consisted of metal key rings or rectangular leather devices to which'keys are: attached by means of hooks. venient,. the. keys constantly moving out of positibn. or becoming, entangled with, other objects, rattfing'. or jihgling, noises. are common, and the.

pocket or bag is torn by contact with the. keys.

The inconveniences .of the devicespreviously used; for this purpose are,..therefore,. overcome in the manner. describedherein. Theretention of the keys in a rigid. or fixed position when not. in use entirely covered by the material of the case and held. in position by the lock-sleeve. afiords. protection from. contact withthe, lining oi. a. pocket or bag, prevents. rattling and j ingling,.pre-

vents entanglement with other objects, afiords easy accessibility, is. convenient in, carrying, creates no bulge, and permits-ready identification by theengraving onthe lock sleeve.

The present preferred form which the invention may assume. is illustrated in thefdrawings, of which; r

Fig.. 1 is. a view of the flat blank. from which Fig. 2 is a. sideelevation of the case. assembled, and; with the partsin closed position,

. Fig: 3 is. a similar. view showing the part in position to permit accessato: someof. the keys.

Fig, 4 is. a. vertical crosssection taken onthe linen-cot Fig.3..

Fig. 5 is. a perspective view of the: sliding lock sleeve.

Fig. 6 is. a detail of the. screw which holds. the: blank in operative position and acts as a pivot.

for the keys. I

The preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings comprises a blank Hi having a line of; fold it around which the twohalves of the: blank are bent to form a U:-shaped. case. with parallel side walls I2 and I3: connected at. the bottom. The top of each side wall: i's'prdv-i'ded with anelongatedrecess cut out therefrom, forms. projecting stop: shoulders: 35 at: each end thereof, which shoulders are preferably: inclined, as shown, to; form limiting stops: for a sliding oval sleeve {5- preferably of. metal which encircles the case and can be slid back and forth from a central' position shown. in Fig. '2, to either end of the recesses M. v

' The ends of the side walls l2 and I3 are perforated as at H! and when aligned as Fig. 2, receive connecting and pivot screws l8 made of two pieces in a well-known manner. Keys l9 are disposed between the side wallsa-nd are hung by their usual end perforations on the pivot screws, as shown, with their working ends dis posed toward each other and toward th central After use, the key Slips These are incon- L 4 part of the case, which it is to be noted, is open ail along the top portion thereof.

The bottom of the case is cut away as at 20, and shown in the form of a diamond so that 5 when the blank is folded as in Fig. 2, th cutaway or weakened portion shows an indentation or nick in the bottom wall which, therefore, terms atweakenedi portion along thebottom wall oi the case around which one. or' the. other half of the case may be bent, as will be described.

The length of the recess I4 and the length of the sliding lock sleeve is is such that when the sieeve H? is in mid-locking position, it will cover andstifien. the. weakened portion and lie over the firee-endsotboth. sets of keys. However, when the look. sleeve is. moved to either end of the recess a shown in Fig. 3, it will still lie over and lock' one set ofkeys but will be moved away from locking position over the other set of keys and thus permit that set to be pivotally moved around their supporting pivotscrew for use-by the owner of the case. In this off-center position it. will be seen that one side. edgeofthelook. sleeveis abutting. the'stop shoulder IE and the other sideedge. liesin alignment. with. the. cut-away. portion; 2.0 so. that,. in this. particular position. of the: lock sleeve, the right half of. the; case. may bebent down as shown in. Fig... 3,, to permitready access to and movement. of. the. keys in that endof the case. around, their pivot points. for. readyuse. VS/Then. the. lock. sleeve. is. moved to: the: other end of. the recess [4,,the. other. half of the: case can thus, be bent down and the keysv therein. inadeac cessible.

While. the invention. has-beendescri-bed in detail with respect. to a present preferred term! which. it may assume, it, is not to. be. limited. to such. details. and form since many changes. and; modifications may be. made. inthezinvention' witn v out departing fromthe: spirit. and scope: of; the inventionin. its broadest aspects. Hence:it,-is-de.-. sired to, cover any and all forms, and modifications: of the'in'vention which. may come within; the-lam. guage. and scope. of any one or more ot the appended. claims. V

Having thus described invention; what I: claim as new and. desire to-secure by Letters;l= 'a tentisz. r

1.. A key case comprising a sheet of flexiblema-- 7 terial. folded into a.-l;J. -shap& with spaced parallel: wa1-1s.,the materialin the middle of the Case: alon the bottom of the; U being cut away to weaken to permit downward flexing of. either half of the case. with respect tQ-theother half, and a slidable: 55 sleeve encircling said walls. and normally dis.- posed' in. position; to surround said. weakened portion. to. inhibit said. flexing whenthe sleeve 'is-in' this normal position, the upper edges of saidwalls, being. provided with cut-away'elongated recesses- 60 having; end shoulders actingas stops to the sleeve wheniit ismoved. in either direction from normal.

2.. Akey case comprising a sheet-of fiexiblamaterial folded into a U-shape with spaced parallel walls, the. sheet in the middle! at; the line of told 65 being cut away to form-a weakening opening; 0t predetermined. shape, interlocking screws con- 7 0 said walls. and normally disposed to surround the weakened'portionand the; ends. of the. key stems..-

the upper edges of the walls. being cut, away in the form of elongated recesses havi end ts ders acting as. stops. for the movement. of the sleeve in. either direction. from normal, thesleeye,

when moved to either direction from normal to the ends of said recesses, moving away from said weakened portion and from the ends of one set of keys, whereby said released keys may be pivoted out of the case and one-half of the case may be flexed downwardly with respect to the other half to facilitate access to the keys in the downwardly flexed end of the case for use.

LARRY SIMON.

REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Marcus May 13, 1924 Parrella June 23, 1931 Hallock Apr. 27, 1937 Bills Mar. 3, 1942 Handley June 23, 1942 Mudrich Sept. 8, 1942 Sherwood Oct. 10, 1944 

